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Odom: Being Booed ‘A Little Confusing,’ ‘A Little Hurtful’

Lamar Odom of the Dallas Mavericks during a stop in the action against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 2, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (credit: Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A bad season continues to get worse for Mavericks forward Lamar Odom.

Odom went scoreless against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. He was held out of the game by head coach Rick Carlisle on Friday and was booed by Mavericks fans two days earlier.

That was the game against the Lakers that Odom notched a triple single: One point, one rebound and one assist.

On Monday, Odom responded.

“I’ve never been booed in my life,” Odom said after practice. “If it’s to the point where I’m playing in a basketball game at home and I’m getting booed I would say –– no disrespect ­­–– but maybe I think people took things the wrong way.”

He continued: “I admitted that I was out of shape for different reasons when I came into camp. I admitted what I’ve been through. I was honest about how my summer went, how I almost left the game and everything I went through. And I think people just took it the wrong way, like if I had a reason not to be here, or if I didn’t want to be here. I think people took that the wrong way.”

Odom, who is averaging a career low 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds this season was surprised by the fans’ response.

“It was a little confusing and a little hurtful, but it’s the sport world,” he said. “I understand. We’re in a business that it’s all about what have you done lately.”

Did the booing make Odom angry?

“I would say confused,” he said. “I wouldn’t say angry.”

We’ll see how Mavericks fans react to the forward Tuesday when Dallas hosts the Rockets at the American Airlines Center.